Index or record cabinet and the like



6, 1930. J. H. RAND, JR

INDEX OR RECORD CABINET AND THE LIKE Filed July 6, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet m M W 7 A Aug. 26, 1930. J H RAND, JR 1,774,237

INDEX OR RECORD CABINET AND THE LIKE Filed July 6, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 .1. H.' RAND. JR

DEX 0R RECORD CABINET AND THE LIKE Aug. 26,1930.

- Filed July 6, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet I //Y Vf/vrov? 3 3 \/\SJ 2 4 2 f a I k I a e z y a w v fl w r v M M w .7 f Z W" 7 f 3 L g, a, 1 SC z 7 A rrok/x/fy,

Aug. 26, 1930. 1 RAND JR 7 1,774,237

INDEX OR RECORD CABINET AND THE LIKE Filed July 6, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTOf/Vf/f,

7 JAMES H. RAND, an, or TONAWANDA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY ivrnsnn'assrenmnnrrs,

Patented Aug. 26,. 1930 UNITED STATES} PA EN OFF I v TO REMINGTON RAND INCL, on, NEW YORK, m n, A CORPORATION on DELAWARE IN DEX OR RECORD CABINET AND THE LIKE Application filed-July 6, 1922. Serial No. 573,145.-

This invention relatesto cabinets suchas used for card. index or filing purposes, in

which a plurality of card trays, drawers or Y analogous members are slidably arranged one Ill) above another in an enclosing case. More particularly the invention relates to a sectional cabinet in which index or record cards or members are arranged 1nv convenient pOSl tlOIl for reference in shallow drawers, trays or holders which .are sli-dably arranged in the cabinet so. as to be housed and protected, but are adapted to be pulled outwardly, or if desired, completely removed from the case, for access or reference to the cards or devlces contained in the drawers or slides. p 7

One object of the invention is to produce a sectional cabinet or case which isof a novel and practical. construction, enabling anyde' sired number of sections 'eacl1 carrying a drawer or slide, to be assembled in one stack or unit. Other objects of theinvention are to construct the cabinetsectionsso as to enable them to be readily assembleda-nd detachably secured in place one'upon the 'other ,andto permit the ready disconnection andremoval of any desired section or sect1ons;also to-.-ar-' range and connect the cabinet sectionsso that they are adapted to separate or spread apart vertically at one end.. In the use of cardindeX cabinets of this sort the drawers are frequently pulled out part way and entries made on the cards in the drawers, or the cardsinserted, removed or rearranged in the drawers. When the drawers are thuspulled out or project forwardly from a cabinet constructed 1n accordance with this invention, if abnormal pressure is exerted on the projecting front end or ends of the drawer or drawers, the

overlying sections of the cabinet canlift or separate from the section orsections beneath, and thus prevent the drawers or the contact.- ing parts of'the'cabinet from being bent or injured by the pressure. When the pressure 1s released, the upper section or sections of the cabinet which have been thus lifted or separa .d from the lower sections will return to w I 7 I be 7 a1 elevation of a P01131011 of the cablnet.

their normal, horizontal positions in connection with the underlying sections. 7 7

Still further objects of theinvention' are to provide the cabinet case with a front door or .rearend of one of the sections.

cover hinged or movably connected :with the upper section of the cabinet and adapted to be engaged with or locked to the base or lower section ofithe cabinet so that when the door 1s closed, it acts as a securing means to preventthe separation of the front ends of the cabinet sections; also to provide a drawer. of

other respects hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In theaccompanying drawings;

i Fig. l is a side elevation of a sectional cabinet embodying the invention, showingone of the drawers 0r slides projecting'partially out of the case, and another drawer in'its hangs lng'positionin front of the cabinet.

' Fig; 2 isafront elevation thereof on anjen larged scale.

Fig. 3 is a'perspective View of the rear portion of one of the cabinet sections.

F 4 is a side elevation of the cabinet illustrating how the cabinet: sections are adapted toseparate or spread relatively to one another in case of undue pressure on the front endof a projectingdrawer. I

Fig. 5 is an; enlarged rearend view of one of the cabinet sections." 1 f 5 F'g. 6is an enlarged, longitudinal, section- :al elevation of three of the cabinet sections, I

showing the others: V p

Fig. 7 is an enlargedsectional View showing the interlocking connections between the rear ends of the cabinet sections.

upper onedisconnected from the Fig. 8 is'an enlarged side elevationof the Fig. 9" is a'lon'gitudinal sectionalel evation of the. frontend portion of the cabinet.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary transverse section- Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one'of the ing the interlocking tongue.

front corners oftwo' adjacent sections, showi Fig. 12 is a perspective view of two adjacent sections showing a modified form of interlocking joint.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the rear portion of one of the drawers and its tail piece.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary longitudinal section thereof.

, which are housed in the cabinet.

. Fig. 15 is a similar view of the parts in a dilferent position.

The caseof the or base section 1, a top section 2, and intermediate sections 3, of which there may be any desired number, arranged one above the other between the base and top sections, said several sections being separably connected or interlocked with each other. The intermediatesections 3 are all alike and interchangeable, and provide plurality of superimposed compartments for the reception of the drawers, or other sliding members a The base section 1 is of suitable construction and dimensions to providea desirable base for the cabinet and support the lowermost drawer-containing section at the desired elevation' This base section is ordinarily made hollow and contains a lock for the front closure of the cabinet. It also provides a space in which locking mechanism for locking the several drawers can be arranged when such a mechanism is desired. The top sect-ion 2 is of suitable construction to form a suitable cover for the top drawer and a finishing top or upper end for the cabinet.

In the construction shown, the base section is in the form of a rectangular sheet metal frame, the opposite sides and the rear end of which ar of channel shape cross section. The front end 5 of the frame preferably has inwardly projecting top and bottom flanges, and is also bent between these flanges to form a horizontal, hollow finishing flange 6 for the bottom of the front end of the cabinet. The front end of the base frame is also provided with inwardly and rearwardly bent side portions 7 for cooperation with similar parts on the intermediate sections to --form hollow, vertical finishing flanges at opposite sidesof the front end of the cabinet.

. The top section 2 is made of sheet metal and is hollow, having top and bottom walls 8 and 9 connected by upright walls at the-opposite sides and rear end of the top section. The front end of the top section is provided between the top and bottom walls 8 and 9 with an inbent portion 10 forming a hollow, horizontal, finishing flange for the top of the front end of the cabinet, and with inbent side parts 10 forming hollow vertical finishing flanges at opposite sides oft-he top section.

The intermediate or drawencontammg sections 3 are all alike, the lowermost one rests upon and is detachably interlocked with the base section 1, and the remaining intermediate drawer sections similarly rest upon and interlock with each other, while the top section 2 similarly rests upon and interlocks with the topmost of the intermediate drawer sections. Each intermediate section comprises a bottom plate 11, side walls 12, and a rear wall 13. in the construction shown, integral side portions of the bottom plate are bent to form the side walls, which preferably are made hollow by bending the side portions cabinet comprises a bottom' of the bottom plate upwardly, inwardly and downwardly, and welding or otherwise suitably attaching the extreme edges 1-l of the plate to the bottom of the section. The rear wall 13 is shown as provided with an inwardly err-tending stiffening and locking flange 15 at its upper edge. As shown in Fig. 3, the bottom of each intermediate section is ofi set downwardly slightly, or formed adjacent its side walls with shoulders 16 extending lengthwise on the underside of the bottom, the shoulders 16 of one section 8 being adapted to lit against the inner edges of the side walls of the underlying section so as to retain the sections in parallel relation with their side walls in the same planes flush with each other. Similarly, the top section is provided with shoulders 16 on its bottom fora like purpose. At the rear end each intermediate section is preferably offset at 17, see Fig. 7, so as to rest upon the inturned locking flange 15 of the underlying section, and each section is provided below t iis offset or shoulder 1'? with a locking tongue 18 adapted to engage unde the locking flange 15 of the underlying intern'iediate or bottom sec tion. A. similar locking tongue 18 is pro video at the rear end of the top section 2 to interlock with the uppermost intermediate section. The frontcnds of the side walls of the intermediate sections are preferably bent inwardly and rearwardly, formingU-shaped portions 19 which aline with the corresponding portions of the top and. base sections to form the hollow side finishing flanges at the front of the cabinet.

In assembling the sections together, one

section is placed upon another with its shoulders 16 or 16 against the upper edges of the side walls of the underl section and shoved rearwardly until its tongue 18 or 18 engages under the locking flange 15 on the underlying section. This prevents the vertical separation of the sections at their rear ends. At its front end, each intermediate section is provided at its opposite sites with depending, vertical, securing tongues or lugs 20, adapted to enter openings 21 in the tops of the hollow side walls of the underlying section. The base section 1 of the cabinet is provided at its front end with similar openings to receive the tongues of the lower terchangeable and adapted to interlock one with the other, with the lowermost intermediate section interlocking with the base section and the uppermostintermediate section interlocking with the topor cover section 2 of the cabinet. The rear ends of thesections of the cabinet are prevented from vertical separation except by first raising the front ends of the sections to disengage the depending lugs from their openings 21, andthen pulling the sections forwardly to disengage the tongues .18 or 18 from the locking flanges 15 at the rear ends of the sections; The front end of each section, however, is adapted to be lifted or separated vertically from the underlying section. V 1

It will be noted that the bottom of each drawer-containing section forms the top of the compartment for the drawer beneath it, and the drawer-containing sections have no top walls, but each section has only a bottom, side and end walls, or in other words is of shallow, U-shape in cross section. By reason of this construction, the several sections of'the cabinet are held securely in intended position one upon the other and prevented from accidental displacement. Nevertheless, the front end of any section can be lifted or separated vertically from its underlying section. Therefore, if the front end of a drawer which is projecting from the, cabinet should be pressed downwardly with suf ficient force, the front ends of the sections of the cabinetabove this drawer would be pried or lifted upwardly by the inner end of the drawer. This makes the cabinet eXpansible and prevents the pressure on the drawer from bending or injuring the drawer orthe adjacent parts of the cabinetsectious. "Likewise,

if the frontof a drawer should be forcibly lifted, the sections of the cabinet will separate in a similar manner and prevent injury to the drawer or cabinet.

Each of the intermediate cabinet sections 3 preferably has the front edge of its bottom bent upwardly and rearwardly, forming a hooked flange or stop which is for the purpose Of engagin EL StOp at rear end 12, the cabinet l'S COlllPOSQCl Of separable blSQ,

of the drawer for arresting the outward movement of the drawer, and normally preventing the drawer frombeing entirely with-- drawn from the case. The flange also forms a stiff, smooth finished front edge forthe sec tion bottom. i

26 represents a cover or closure for the front end of the cabinet. As shown, this cover passes through a horizontal slot in the front end of the top section 2 of the cabinet and is adapted to be pulled outwardly through this slot, swungdownwardly', and secured to close the front endof the cabinet and prevent the opening of the drawers.

Preferably this cover is provided at its upper or rear endwith a bent flange 27 which, when.

the'cover isswung downwardly engages over the lnbent horizontal flange 10 on the front end of the top section 2 to serve as a hinge, and the cover is provided at its front or lower end with an inbent flange 29 adapted to extendinwardly beneath a keeper, or holding strip 30 on the front end of the base section 1 of the cabinet. When, therefore, the cover is pulledout of the top section and swung down to its vertical closed position, its upper flange '27 engages the flange 10 on the top" section 2,'and its bottom flange engages the holding strip 30 on the base section of the cabinet, thus tying these sections together and preventing the separation or disengagement of the front ends of the sections, so that when the cover is in closed position, it is impossible to separate or disengage the sections of the cabinet. locked in closed position by any suitable lock, such as an ordinary key lock indicated at 31 creased or reduced in dimensions'to flt the cabinet when a greater or lesser number of sections is employechthe cover is shown as being composed of a. plurality of sections 34 detachably connected together by rigidly interfitting slip joints 35. These sections can be disconnected by slipping or driving one endwise out of engagement with the other The cover 26 can be to v . in the front end of the base section 1 of the and in this way one or more sections can be I removed to reduce the dimensions of the cover, or one or more-additional sections can be inserted to increase the dimensions of the If it is not desired to make the cover of detachable sections in this manner, covers of different sizes, each adapted to fit a cabinet having a certain number of sections can be providedj y In the modified construction shown in Fig.

top and intermediatetsections, as above expla1ned, and the sections can be of similar constructiom'but they are detachably connected, preferably by pins 36 which project downwardly from the four corners of one section and removably fit in sockets 3'? at the corners of the underlying sections, each of "the intermediate sections being provided at its bottom with the pins '36 and at its top pins of the No. 402,089, filed Aug. 9, 1920, that is as.

follows I The body portion 40 of each slide is formed with hollow, raised edges or side walls 42,

the lower edges of the walls being slightly spaced apart from the bottom of the body whereby a slot 43 is provided for the reception of the retaining tongues of the cards or card holders. The side walls are cut away or recessed at each end as at 44 whereby the cards may be readily removed. It considered desirable to construct the slides of thin metal, and in such construction to form the side walls by bending the edges of the sheetupwardly, inwardly and downwardly, thereby forming integral channeled side walls which impart greater rigidity and strength to the slide. The rear wall of the slide body is preferably formed oil an angle piece 45 suitably secured to the inner face of the body and having its upper edge bent inwardly so as to provide an overhanging flange as at 46. The flange 46 is slotted as at 32, Fig. 13, thereby providing tongues 47 which fit within the channeled sides of the body and serve to brace the walls.

The pivoted inner end portion or tail piece 41 of the slide preferably pivotally secured to the body as by a pin 48 passing through suitable loops 49 formed on or suitably attached to the rear of the slide body, and through loops on the tail piece formed by bending over the front edge of the tail piece. The pivoted tail piece is provided with up wardly and inwardly extending sidei'langes 50 which extend forwardly beyond the front end ofthe bottom of the tail piece, as indicated at 50 whereby they are adapted, when in horizontal position, to overlap and partially enclose the rear ends of the side walls ofthe slide body, both at the top and outer sides thereof, thus ensuring that no part of the piece is further provided on slide member prese ts any sharp edges or ends when being insei J-SCl in the cabinet, and also serving to provide a rule joint whereby angular movement of the slide in an up warddirection relative to the pivoted end is limited, thereby permitting quick closing of the slides, and effectively tending to prevent jamming or catching when the slides are hurriedly thrown to closed position. The overlapping side portions 50 also holc the body and tail piece in alinement and prevent relative lateral play between them. Tl'ic tail its under side with one or more hook memoers or stops 51 which are adapted to engage one stop flange 25 at the front end of the section 3 containing the slide when the slide has been withdrawn to a certain point, whereby the tail piece of the slide will be retained in the cabinet, as

- illustrated in Fig. 14. The side flanges 50 serve as a guide for the sliding movement of the hinged tail pieces in the cabinet and to cause the hooks 51 to engage the stop flanges. The tail piece is also provided at its rear end with an upbent flange which provides a stiff, smooth rear end for the tail piece. In order to permit of intentional removal of the slide members, the side flanges 50 are provided with notches or depressions 52 at their upper faces which permit of the slide and its pivoted tail piece being given an upward movement when the notches register with the front edge of the section bottom next above, resulting in releasing the hook members from engagement with the flange of the section next below, as indicated in F 15, thus permitting the removal of the slide.

In the use of the improved cabinet, the cards are inserted in the slide with their tongues projecting into the side channels of the slides. Then with the slide body and hinged tail piece in horizontal alinement, as shown in Fig. 14 the slide is inserted in the cabinet. To examine the cards in any of the slides, the slide is pulled out until the hooks on the bottom of the hinged tail piece engage with the stop flange of the section 3 containing the slide, whereupon the slide may be released and will hang in a vertical position in front of the cabinet permitting ready access to any and all of the cards carried therein. in this position, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 14, the pivoted tail piece of the slide projects out of the cabinet and the slide can hang vertically from the pivoted end, thus permitting of a better view of the cards in the upper slides of a relatively high cabinet, and not tending to bend or injure the handles of lower slides. To return the slide to closed position in the cabinet, it may be grasped by the handle and moved upwardly, then inwardly, the projecting flanges of the hinged end acting in this movement to limit the upward movement of the slide body so that the slides may be moved upwardly and inwardly in substantially one motion with great speed.

In order to detach and remove any one of the slides from the cabinet, it is drawn outwardly until the hooks of its hinged tail piece engage the stop at the front end of the section 8, whereupon, if the slide is moved inwardly slightly and lifted up, the depressed portions of the side flanges of the tail piece will permit the disengagement of the hooks and the removal of the slide and its attached tail piece from the cabinet. The slides can be pulled out quickly without particular care, and he guide flanges of the tail pieces cooperating with the bottom of the section 3 above will always cause the hooks to engage so as to limit the outward movement of the slides and retain them in connection with the cabinet, nevertheless any desired slide can be readily disconnected and removed from the cabinet, as explained, by a simple lifting movement ofsthe front endof the slide.- v I Iclaim as my invention f 1". A sectional cabinet comprising a plug rality ofindependent and separable sections arranged ene upon another and formingcompartments opening at oneendof the cabinet,

a sliding member arranged in eachcompart mentand movable into and out of said cabinet, said sections being formed of sheet metal of substantially U-shaped cross section "and having integral, hollow side walls which together form Stiiiflrigid sidewalls forthe cabinet, each of said-sections having bottom wall formed with a depressed intermediate portion adapted to fit between the side wall of the sectionnext below to prevent lateral displacement of said sections, and

means -detachably connecting said sections one to another and normally preventing vertical separation of said sections.

2. A sectional cabinet comprsing a pluralityof sections arranged one upon'another and forming compartments opening at one end of the cabinet, a sliding member arranged in each compartment and movable into and 1' out vof said cabinet, said sections beingformed of sheet metal of substantially 'U- shaped cross section and having integral hollow side walls which together form stifl, rigid side walls for the cabinet, each of said sectionshaving abottom wall formed with a depressed intermediate portion adapted to fitbetween the side walls of the section next below to prevent lateral displacement of said sections, interlocking connections at the rear ends of saidsections which prevent vertical separation of said sections, and vertically interfitting lugs and slots at the front ends of said sections which normally hold said sections together at said front ends, and

which permit said sections to separate vertically at the front ofjsaid cabinet when said slides are subjected'to upward or downward pressure I after being partially withdrawn from said cabinet. a; 1 I

3. A sectional cabinet comprising a plurality of detachably connected sections arranged one upon another and forming compartments for containing sliding members, said sections being of substantially Ushape cross section without top Walls, interlocking connections for said sections at oneendwhich prevent vertical separation of the sectionsatsaid end,

, v and interengaging parts at the opposite ends r of saidsections which permit vertical separation of the latter ends of the sections,when said slides are subjected to upward or down ward pressures after being partially .with

drawn from said cabinet. I

4:. Asectional cabinet comprising a plurality offlseparate sections arranged one upon another-and forming compartments open at one end for the reception of sliding members movable into and out of said cabinet, inter fitting partsat the rear ends of said sections for preventingvertical' separation at said ends of; said sections, and a closure member adapted to extend vertically n one position in front offsaid sections and having parts cabinet, and 'saiclclosure member being movable to a second position in which said sl1d adaptedto tie, said sections together. to prevent vertical separation thereof at said front ends when said sliding members are in said ing'members can be moved out of said cablinet, and said sections beingthen, separable attheir front ends,afterreleaseby said c10- sui'e member, when said slides are subjected sections,'and a closure member hingecllysup,-

ported along onevedge and comprising a plurality of rigidly interfitting parts correspondsaid intermediate sections and connectwith said topand bottom sectionsto close said cabinet and prevent access to-said sliding ymembers, said closure member being adapted to be extended or reduced in lengthfbyadding to or-reducing thenumber of its interfitf ting parts so as to fit theicabinet when'the number of intermedate sections in said cabinet; is varied, and said closure member being movable out of its positionin front of said intermediate section's-V to, giv access ;to said sliding members. V r ::6.: A' sectional cab net. comprising apluing in number to the sections of said cabinet and adapted to -.extend vertically in front of of separate sections arranged one upon a another; and forming,compartments open at one end for thereception of sliding members -mo.vable into and out of said cabinet,

tions for preventing vertical separation at said end of said sections, while permitting said sections to be separated by relative for- 1 ward movements, a closure member adapted 1 ,to extend vertically in front of said sections ,interfitting parts atthe rear endsof s-aidsec-f 1 and having releasable connections with the i and b0tt01fiLseotiO11S tofthe cabinet to close the open ends of said compartments and pre vent verticalseparationof said sections a at their front ends, and which. also prevents relative forward separating movements 0t 1,

saidsecti ons, and said closure memberbeing a r movablefto a position such that saidisliding members may be moved out of said cabinet. V ia '7, Asecticnalica'binet compr sng a plurality of separate sections arrangedrone upon another and forming compartments @open' at we and r the f eten i n "o sli amema 20 V cent section to hold said sections in alignment,

I bers movable into and out of said cabinet,

interfitting parts at the rear ends of said .sections for preventingvertical separation at said end of said sections, a closure member formed of a plurahty of transverse, sheet metal members having endwise, interfitting rigid connections, said member being movable to and from a position in front'of said open ends of'said compartments, and means means detachably inter-engaging at the rear ends of said sections to normally prevent vertical separation of the sections, a closure member carried by the top section adapted in one position to overlie the fronts of said intermediatesections and means for locking said closure member to said base section, said closure member in locked position preventing detachment of any of said sections from another and preventing access to said intermediate'sections.

9. Asectional cabinet, com rising a base section, a top section, and a p urality of intermediate section's, said intermediate sec-' tions being mounted one above the other between said base and top sections, means on each section cooperating with the next adj a-' cent'section to hold said sections in alignment, interfitting parts at the rear ends of c said sections to prevent vertical separation of said ends, and a closure member detachably connected in one position to said topand bottom sections in front of said intermediate sections, and locking all' of said sections against detachment, said closure member also preventing access to the fronts of said intermediate sections. I

10. A sectional cabinet, having an inter- 'mediate section comprising a sheet metal member formed with upwardly extending side walls at the'side edges, inwardly extending flanges at the upper edges of said side walls, downwardly extending inner side walls at the inner edges of said flanges s'ecured tosaid member, the central portion of said member between saidinner side walls being offset below the marginal portions thereof at the sides, a rearwall extending upwardly from said member, a locking flangeon the upper edge of said rear wall, and a hook portion formed at the front edge of said member.

11. Asectional cabinet,'=having an intermediate section, comprlsmg a sheet metal side walls at the side edges, inwardly extending flanges at the upper edges of said side walls, and downwardly extending portions forming inner sidewalls at the inner edges of said flanges, the lower edges of said downwardly extending portions being secured to said member, and the central portion of said member between said inner side walls being offset below the marginal portions thereof at the sides.

JAMES H. RAND, JR.

member formed with upwardly extending 

